North Florida Bluegrass Association Award Winners
Emily Rebecca Miller
NFBA Music Scholarship - 2004
My name is Emily Miller, and I am a sixteen-year-old bluegrass musician. I was first introduced to bluegrass music around Christmas of 1999. My parents had a party and Dad invited some musicians over to play. A man by the name of Denny Williams played bluegrass banjo and guitar. I came to know it as bluegrass. I was so impressed that I picked up my Dad's guitar the next day and said, "I'm going to play this just like Denny one day."
I started playing guitar and learned a few songs to sing. Then, last summer I got a mandolin for my birthday and started taking lessons. Today, I am taking breaks on most songs at the jams. I have also had the opportunity to record a few tunes. My greatest accomplishment is that I am an honorary member of the "Moonlite Express," band. I received a fiddle on my 16th birthday this year and I am learning to scratch out a few songs.
I hope to be a great mandolin player. I also wish to be known for my voice. My long-term goal is to be able to play all the bluegrass instruments. My short-term goal is to be in a band and perform on stage in front of large audiences.
This scholarship will help me achieve these goals and fulfill my hopes and dreams. This scholarship will help pay for mandolin lessons as well as learn to play fiddle.
I deserve this scholarship because I am dedicated to playing bluegrass. I have been playing for five years and nothing could replace the joy its given to me. I am a regular member at the local jams and active in the bluegrass community. I put forth a lot of effort to help give back to the community with my music by practicing daily. Bluegrass is very important to me and it's something I am never going to give up.